BLOKES WITH BREAST CANCER

Separate issues here: genetic testing, male screening. The genetic testing angle is well covered for my boys, since, to put it in the delicate words of one of them, "we have official confirmation -- Mum is a freak!" (referring to my BRCA1 mutation) they are all eligible for testing.

Male screening seems to go lost in today's medical landscape. Even in the presence of any of the BRCA mutations, the probability is such that the general medical consensus generally predludes screening. I am, however, interested in finding out how they would screen a man, considering female screening is mostly by mammogram, and how a man's eligibility for screening, or more accurately, for demanding to be screened, changes if they are shown to have the mutation.

That is definitely worth exploring - would your genetic counsellor be able to advise you?

It really is scary to know that one person, oncologist / consultant /surgeon / can make a choice that can alter a persons screening. I think you will find male screening will be the same as female screening as i have been put on that list. Your demanding much be stronger if mutation is found. I wonder if male screening is down to regional health practice. Would be interesting to find out if other hospital authorities offer this. kind regards       

Thanks for that, you have just answered one of my questions. As for the issue zephyr raised earlier, namely the eligibility for screening, I suspect you could be right about regional variations. However, as with a lot of practices, sometimes it is down to insistence. 

zephyr : This is worth cross-checking, so I think I will ask both oncology and the genetic consultant. 

If you are under genetics, they usually advise re familial cancer risk screening and it is very standardised based on accurate risk assessments. The challenge can be getting referred in the first place based on your family history, but with all the information of cancer in the family, who had it and what age, to hand you can get referred by your GP/surgeon/oncologist if there is enough suspicion of a possible family link.

Not everyone wants a genetic test and some people elect to have screening without the test based on their family history.

Hi everyone….

I thought I’d add to the Genetic testing. Debate.

when I was diagnosed with breast cancer in August 2019, I was spoken too after my mastectomy, when the sentinel node showed cancer cells. (Axillary clearance followed)

My Mother and a Sister both had breast cancer, and I was spoken too re genetic testing for BRCA1 and 2 Mutations…..

Sadly Covid got in the way and I didn’t get the pre counselling prior to the blood test until November 2021.

I was informed that as a male with breast cancer, that alone qualified me for testing. In February 2022 I was informed , that I had the BRC2 Gene..

strangely, the mutation came from my fathers side not my mums. My dad died of stomach cancer, his mother died from Pancreatic cancer, my cousin on dads side developed breast cancer at the same time as myself. And I have a brother who has had Skin Cancers.  The Genetics pointed to my fathers bloodline.  

As for screening, I asked the question, I was told after the five years I’m currently under cancer care, mammograms would continue, but may cease after that period. I stated what about my BRCA diagnosis. The reply was Were not sure…..

not good enough…..so I asked the Genetics doctor to ask if I can as a man have preventative breast surgery, she said it was unusual, but would ask at the MDT meeting.

I’ve since seen my own breast surgeon re repairing a dog ear on my right side mastectomy. I mentioned my BRCA diagnosis he said he saw no reason why I cannot have left breast removed, and I should be offered the same options as women. 

I’ve since been told I’m down for both now mastectomy and repair to original..

as for other screening I’m still waiting for my GP to give me a PSA test for prostate cancer, but getting anywhere my GP is currently rarer than Hayley’s Comet. As for Pancreatic screening there is none…, and Skin Cancer, No screening that I’ve seen, more preventative advice….Co rectal , has not even been mentioned even the my dads Stomach Cancer was possibly both…..

PS….the reason for the repair to right side is all down to intense and constant pain, post Radiotherapy In June 2020……..

surgeon states the shrinking effect from radiotherapy has caused a fibrosis effect in the whole area. He plans to lit the old scar and loosen …..

my radiotherapy was messed up due to Covid. I had  5 sessions over a week at x3 the strength, instead of customary 15 sessions over three weeks. I was informed it was not detrimental to my health. It would now appear it was.

To all the silent men reading anything they can about male breast cancer, you have probably just been given the bad news by your surgeon and are waiting to have this cancer removed. Attending hospital clinics full of females.  The actual surgery for me was a day case i was injected with a radioactive material into the tumour and taken to theatre  and i was home at teatime, best sleep i ever had. Surgery will be followed by update of results, if nodes come back clear there is a good chance you  will not need any more surgery, for me i had to have node clearance which involved another operation three weeks later and a cut under armpit  and a drain fitted for a week which was awkward getting comfy,   and will then be passed over to an oncologist who will look at the results of surgery and then make a calculated view whether you will need months of chemo or 5 days of radiotherapy or both and then put on daily hormone tablets for years. I was recommended for all three ,but turned down chemo after a chat with my care nurse ,but i also joined a chemo  trial which also came back saying no chemo, so medical advise was wrong.  Sounds great doesn't it .Remember the choice of after surgery: chemo,radio,hormones  is your decision and i would recommend you discuss this with your nominated breast care nurse.  I remember a medical person telling me chemo will probably kill all traces of breast cancer but ,you could get another cancer in later years or be cancer free for life there is no guarantees with cancer and i think older people will learn to live with cancer in their life's. The future of males living with breast cancer is getting better all the time and is not all doom and gloom. The ladies on this forum are living proof this cancer can be beaten, female or male, if you have any thoughts on your journey with breast cancer please don't be afraid to ask any question because the people on here will have an answer for you.eg sleeping with a cushion for support, exercises after surgery etc.  My journey from cancer confirmation to end of hospital treatments was five and half months but everybody's treatment and hospital region is different. This was my personal experience and sometimes the truth hurts and can be brutal with family and your mental health you will have good days and bad days but you will meet and talk to some special people on your journey and you will beat this. Kind regards     

An updated article about the Men's VMU 
Eastenders actor draws on experiences of men with breast cancer by meeting virtual support group co-founded by DMU psychologist

Came across this fantastic read thanks to ""   happyfeet1  ""      https://www.workingwithcancer.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/After-the-treatment-finishes-then-what.pdf      Would recommend everyone to read this regarding after treatment. Kind Regards

Thanks for this